AT ILLINOIS...
In his fourth season as a walk-on at Illinois under both Lon Kruger (2000) and Bill Self (2001, 2002 and 2003) ? Saw action in eight games as a junior, playing a total of 13 minutes and scoring two points and grabbing four rebounds ... Saw action in one game in 2000-01 in the home win against Iowa ? Played two years of football at Larkin and four years of basketball ? Was a two-year starter on the Larkin varsity basketball team ? Upstate 8 Academic All-Conference selection in 1998 and 1999 ? Made the 1998 Hinsdale Central Thanksgiving All-Tournament team and set the tournament single-game rebounding record with 18.

PERSONAL... Born June 30, 1981 ... Parents are Richard and Faith Thomas ? Has two younger sisters, Sarah and Jillian ? Father, Richard, played basketball at Kansas and was a 1965 Champaign News-Gazette All-State selection from Dieterich, Ill. ? Named to the National Honor Society at Larkin High School ? Majoring in marketing.